I came across a story on my twitter feed this morning posted by @KidsImmigration that just breaks my grandmotherly heart on so many levels. An undocumented mother in Houston was arrested in front of her two daughters at her doctor’s office, Northeast Women’s Healthcare Clinic, after the staff called police because they “suspected” she was using false documents. An avalanche of questions exploded in my mind!

Who does such a cruel thing? What motivates someone to tear someone’s life apart in front of her children? And who is the “staff” at the Northeast Women’s Healthcare clinic in Houston, TX who would do that to a patient in their clinic? There is usually a self-righteous instigator, agitator, initiator who bullies the rest to go along with this type of behavior. Who was it? Was it Dr. David J. Bonilla, was it Dr. Vonne Jones, was it Dr. Miles E. Mahan, was it RN Penny Norman, was it RN Susana Kataka-Gitu? Why didn’t someone stand up and say this is not part of our job? Is this the type of action that Memorial Hermann Medical Group encourages and condones from their employees? Does President & CEO Dan Woltermann applaud the actions of the staff? What happened to the Hippocratic Oath the doctors swore to uphold? Is the state of women’s health care and medical care in general such that providers have now become an active part of law enforcement and Homeland Security? Are these doctors to be trusted?

This is a sad day for us. Whichever side of the immigration debate you stand on, this was not handled correctly. This was hateful and vindictive. And where are the evangelical Christian voices in Houston who should be opposed to this type of heartless, cruel action? I call on the Christian community to express disapproval and indignation that a person made in God’s own image could be treated so inhumanely: Lakewood Church, Second Baptist Church, Fellowship Church, The Woodlands Church, New Light Church, The Fountain of Praise, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Church Without Walls, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Community of Faith, Champion Forest Baptist Church…

Familia, we should not remain quiet in the face of the injustices that continue to pile up against our community nationwide. We must voice our concern on social media, call your government officials to account, call the media to account, and stop patronizing and supporting organizations that mistreat our people. Hold these individuals, companies, organizations accountable for their actions. We are on the moral right of this issue!

‘He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18-19

‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ Deuteronomy 27:19

“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34

“The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.” Psalms 146:9

Abuela de Miami and Abuelo de Miami attended the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation Annual Christmas Gala at the Miami Seaquarium on Saturday, December 6th. It was one of those rare, beautiful, cool South Florida evenings accompanied by a gentle breeze. Hundreds poured onto the Seaquarium grounds where tents had been set up. Food and drink were aplenty, and the music was jammin’. The highlight of the night for abuela and abuelo de Miami was Grupo Niche. They delighted the crowd with their classics as everyone sang and danced along. From the iconoc “Revolotea” to “Gotas de Lluvia” to “Una Aventura” they gave their all to Miami that evening. You can visit Abuela de Miami’s Instagram account @jflores111 to watch a couple of videos which I uploaded.

The grounds were so large that I didn’t see any of my fellow Carnaval Miami VIP Ambassadors although I knew they were there because I was continually receiving their posts on social media. It was the perfect event to kick off a very busy holiday season. Looking forward to the upcoming events. Follow here or at @abuelademiami, @carnaval_miami to receive updates.

Much has been written of late regarding the furor that erupted when the young Sebastian de la Cruz and more recently the iconic salsa singer Marc Anthony sang the national anthem at sporting events. Some Anglos and African Americans were offended that these two Hispanic Americans would be invited to sing songs that honor and pay tribute to America because they are “Mexican.” The irony lies in that both of these men were born here, feel more comfortable communicating in English and aren’t able to “go back to” any other country because this is their country.

As a Hispanic I was proud to see how both Sebastian and Marc showed grace under fire and didn’t resort to the same mudslinging, name calling or racial slurs that were hurled at them by people who are clearly ignorant, resentful and afraid of the changing face of America. The “educación” Hispana learned at home was clearly evident in their response to the anger directed towards them. What instills even more pride is the rush to their defense by the Hispanic community en masse. Mi gente we have risen to the occasion as never before. From “sea to shining sea”, from the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam, the voices of Hispanic Americans have made known that they will not remain quiet, will not be intimidated and will use their voice individually and collectively to express their displeasure and disapproval at racially motivated attacks on other Hispanics.

Social media in particular has been a crucial vehicle to express our outrage, to connect and to continue organizing for a change in the tone of the debate taking place in this country where Hispanics are concerned. Social media sites such as Latino Rebels and Being Latino are quick to raise the alarm, and the traditional Hispanic media such as Univision, Telemundo, CNN en Español, MundoFox, MegaTV are every vigilant. And it is not over, most recently Bebe Lanugo, a company in Miami is calling for Hispanics to show our children that they can be proud of being Hispanic American by making a video of you and your children singing the national anthem and sending it to them from which they will create a video which will be seen around the US. You can send it to cantaconorgullo@gmail.com as soon as possible if you would like to participate.

We are all different, with different world views even within the Hispanic community, but that does not justify the disrespectful, abusive or racist vitriol that so easily seems to pour forth from some Anglo and African American citizens and leaders alike when referring to Hispanics, especially when it comes to Mexicans. Hispanics are now the largest minority group in this country and by all statistical indications our numbers are projected to continue growing exponentially over the next decades, especially Mexicans. This is also our “home sweet home,” our “casa dulce casa,” and we are productive, enterprising and a BLESSING to this great country.